Variable-speed clutch.



E. M. LAWLER. VARIABLE SPEED CLUTCH. APPLIOATION FILED we. 28, 1912.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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ATTORNEY.

E. M. LAWLER.

VARIABLE SPEED CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

a R. m m/ m M & VM m m M M 2 d W Z y B Will/II WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

EDWARD M. LAWLERDIF SYBECUSE, NEW YORK.

VARIABLE-SPEED CLUTCH Specification of Lettersrfatent.

retreated Apr. as, rare.

Application filed August 28, 1912. Serial Natl-7,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it -known that I, EowARD M. LawLnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of (inondaga andvariable speed transmission or drive for automobiles and motorcylces.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple, effective and compact clutch mechanism of the class for transmitting power derived from an engine or other source, by means of an incompressible fluid, without the use of any gears.

A further object is to provide a fluid clutch or drive which is capable of being readily and quickly adjusted and set for driving another mechanism at any speed from 'zero to the highest speed of the source of power.

A further object is to provide a variable speed clutch or transmission which is capable of being applied to, or of taking the'place of,

the usual fly-wheel of an engine, thereby re-. ducing the number of parts and also econo-,

mizing in the space required to install the device. And a further object is to provide novel and simple valves-and valve-operating. parts for controlling the pumping of the i sents an auxiliary shaft disposed in line with The advantages and features of the inven- 2 tion will/be understood from the detail description which follows, and by reference to l the accompanying drawings which form af fluid.

part of the specification, and in which construction, arrangement and operation of the main parts .of the device. Fig. 2 is a; central vertical cross-section, with parts. broken away showing one of the cylinders or pumps; also showing the mechanism employed for opening and closing the valve.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the valve operating mechanism. 4 is a similar section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; showing the construction and arrangement of the valve carried by each cylinder. Fig. 5 is at reduced view of the spider which operates.

the several valves. Fig.6 is a detail view of the reciprocating valve lever. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the trunnion yoke.

In the'dr-awings, 2 represents a hollow circular casing havlng one open and one closed end, the closed end or back having a central socket or recess 3.

4 represents a circular cap or head for closing the open end :of the casing. The cap 4 is preferably inserted in .a recess whichsurrounds the open end 'of'the casing, and is held :in place 'by holt-so, which are threaded into the casing. llhe cap 4 is preferably packed in a suitable manner for, rendering the joint liquid tight. The outer face of the cap 4 is provided with a concentric hub or sleeve 7. The casing 2 may be attached to and driven by an engine or other power-dc .vice, and for the purpose of illustrating this feature o-f the invention, the casing is .moimt ed upon a shaft 8, one end of which has a flange 9, which is secured to the closed end of-the-easing by bolts 10. fllhe opposite end shaft 8, and which is journaled in the sleeve or hub 7 of the cap 4, in which is disposed a bushing 14, pack-in 15, and a gland-nht 16. The outer end of te shaft 13 may be con nected to any device to be driven. The in- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section,;; taken on line 11 of Fig. 2; showing the:

nor end of the shaft 13 is fitted with a double crank which comprises the usual spaced disks 17 and 1.7, anda wrist-pin 18, the latter being preferably detachably connected to the disk 17 by a pin 18. 19 represents a gudgeon, or shaft, which is carried by the disk 17, and is disposed in line with shafts 8 and 13, and which projects into the socket 3 of the casing, in which it is rotatably supported by means of ball-bearings 20. 21, 22 and-23 represent similar cylinders, which are spaced equidistant within the casing 2, and comprise parts of a series of fluid pumps, by means of which the variable power or speed is produ ed. 'lheouter ends of the cylinders are pivoted to the casing 2, by means of tubular shafts or sleeves 24, which pierce lugs 25 formed on the outer ends of the cylinders. The sleeves 24 also pierce the back of the casing 2, and the cap 4, by means of suitable perforations 26. The opposite ends of the cylinders 21, 22 and 23 are open. 27

single ring 29, (as best seen in Fig. 2). In carrying out the object and working of my device, the casing 2 is filled with a fluid .Which preferably consists of an oil, but may be any other suitable liquid, and the power transmitted from the casing 2 to the shaft 13, is. effected by the pumping of the oil by means of the reciprocating of the pistons 27, when operated by the crank carried by said shaft. The oil contained in the casing 2 is admitted to the closed ends of the cylinders by means of-a series of ports 30 which are-spaced around the outer enlarged portions of the cylinders. The flow of the oil into and out of the cylinders is controlled by annular valves 31, which surround the enlarged portions of the cylinders, and these valves are provided with ports 32, which are arranged to register with the ports 30 'when the valves are open, as shown in Figs.

2 and 4, and the valves 31 are adapted to be rotated in one direction for closing the ports 30" for preventing the passing of the oil, as shown by dot-ted lines in Fig. 4. The valves 31 are operated by levers or arms 33, which are arranged at right angles to and carried by areciprocating plungers or rods 34,, which are disposed in the sleeves or bushings 24, which pivotally support the cylinders. The levers or arms 33, project through the play in longitudinal slots 35 which are.

formed in the bushings 24. The outer or free ends of the levers 33 are provided with yokes, which straddle pins 36, which are carried by in s 37 disposed on the outer surface of the valves 31. The longitudinal movement of the rods 34, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 3, effects the partial rotation of the valves 31 for opening and closing the ports 30. 39 represents a series of caps which .are mounted upon the closed end of the casing 2, concentrlc to the open ings 26. and the bushings 24, for preventing the escape of the oil at these points. 40 represents similar caps which are mounted upon the cover 4 at the opposite ends of the bushings 24. The caps 40 are perforated centrally and provided with necks 41, which are threaded to receive gland-nuts 42, in which are disposed packings 43 for preventone end of which bears against the cap 4,

the other end engages the spider 44. The spring 48 exerts its power for forcing and holding the spider away from the casing, as best-seen in Fig. 2, for maintaining the valves in open position. 49 represents a trunnion-ring which is disposed-in a groove 50 which encircles the outer end of the hub 45. The trunnion-ring 49 is employed for operating the spider in the direction for closing'the valves 31, or against the tension of the spring 48. 51 represents a yoke, the arms. of which connect with the trunnion ring 49.by means of oppositely disposed pins. 52. The opposite end of the yoke 51 is pivoted to a lever 53 by a pin or bolt 54. The

part 53 may consist of the usual foot lever carried by automobiles, or the said lever may be. arranged for operating by hand. The lever 53 may be disposed in anysuitable position and may be pivotally connected, as by pin or shaft 55, to a support 56.

The operation of my fluid clutch or drive is as follows: Assuming that the cylinders 21, 22 and 23 are properly disposed in the casing 2, and that the casing is filled with oil. The engineor other source of power is started and effects the rotation of the casing 2. At this time the valves 31. should be in the open position indicatedin Figs. 1, 2, 3' and 4, in which position they are normally held by spring 48 when the lever 53 is in the released position shown. While the valves are in the open position as'described, the casing 2 rotates, but the shaft 13 and its crank and the pistons 27 stand still, because the ports 30-32 are all open.v Then as the casing rotates, cylinders 21, 22 and 23 are reciprocated in'regular order on the pistons 27, which draws the oil into the cylinders and forces it out again without moving the pistons-or the shaft 13. After the engine and the casing 2 has attainedthe proper speed and everything is in readiness for starting the machine to be driven, the operator should press the upper end of the lever 53 toward the casing 2,, which will move the spider 44 and the rods 34 in :the same direction for closing the valves 31, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. As soon as the valves begin to close the free passage of the oil into and out of the cylinders is restricted, and the resistance thereby offered effects the starting of the shaft13 and related parts. At first the movement of the shaft 13 will be slow, and then as the valves are closed to a greater extent, the speed of the shaft 13 will increase, until it equals the speed of the casing 2 and the driving shaft 8, which will be the maximum speed of both the driving and the driven parts. Under this arrangement an automobile or other mechanism may be operated at any speed from zero to the maximum, by means of my fluid clutch. The increase and decrease of the speed of thedriven parts may be readily, conveniently and accurately controlled by and through the lever 53. When the valves 31 are open to any extent, the oil will be sucked in and forced out of each cylinder once each revolution of the casing or flywheel 2, and at such times the cylinders and piston-rods will oscillate correspondingly to the travel and swing of the crank-pm 18, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, wherein the dotted lines 57 and 58 indicate respectively the constantly changing centers of the cylinders and the crankpin, when these parts are rocked and rotated during each revolution of the casing 2. When however, the valves 31 are entirely closed, the rotary motion of the crank, and also the reciprocating movement of the pistons and cylinders cease, andthen 4 these parts and the shaft 13 will rotate in equal. time with the casing 2, and shaft 13 will thenoperate at its maximum speed. As long as the lever 53 is held in the operated position for closing the valves 31, the casing'2 and shaft 13 will operate at the same speed. To slow down or stop the driven parts, the lever 53 should be moved toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, which will open the valves 31, and allow the pumping of the oil.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clutch, a hollow casing adapted to be constantly rotated by a source of power, a fluid filling said casing, a driving member comprising a series of cylinders disposed radially in said casing, each of said cylinders oscillatably supported by a sleeve which pierces the casing, a rotary valve surrounding each cylinder for controllingthe passage of the fluid to and from the cylinder, a reciprocating valve-rod disposed in each of said sleeves, means for operatively connecting saidvalve-rods with said rotary-valves, automatic means for operating said valverods in one direction, and independent means for operating said valve-rods in the opposite direction.

2. A variable speed clutch',-- comprisin a hollow fly-wheel filled with a fluid, a plurality of oscillating cylinders pivoted in said fly-wheel and extending radially, said cylinders adapted to rotate with the fly-wheel, and each having a plurality of circumferential ports, a shaft journaled in said flywheel, having crank disposed substantially concentric to said cylinders, pistonsin said cylinders connecting with and adapted to drive said crank and shaft, rotary valves surrounding said cylinders having ports corresponding to and adapted to coincidewith the ports in the cylinders for allowing the passage of the fluid, means for automatically operatingsaid valves in one direction simultaneously, and means for manually operating said valves in 'the opposite direction. a

3. A variablespeed clutch, comprising a hollow fly-wheel filled with fluid, a pluralit of oscillating cylinders-pivoted inside.

the tly-wheel and extending ra'dially, said cylinders adapted to rotate with said flywheel, a shaft journaled in said fly-wheel and then increasing the speed ofthe said shaft until it equals the speed of said flywheel.

4. In a clutch, a hollow casing adapted to be constantly rotated by an engine, a fluid filling said casing, a driving member comprising a series'of cylinders disposed radially in said casing,each of said cylinders supported by a sleeve which pierces said casing, a valve carried by each cylinder for controlling the passage of the fluid to and from said cylinder, a valve-rod carried by each of said sleeves and slidabletherein, a spider carried by said casing and connected to said valve-rods, a spring for holding said spider away from said'casing for openlng said valves,-and means for movingvsald spider"toward said casing for closing said valves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. EDWARD M. LAWLER.

Witnesses i E. C. WRIG T HARRY DE WALLACE. 

